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Wednesday, June 19, 2013

First Week in Italy!

Well I am in Italy!It is seriously soo
beatiful here! Ahh I love it here already and I am so grateful to be here. We
came in late to Milano. We missed a flight so we were in the Heathrow airport
for 8 hours...Luckily they gave us pounds so we could buy some food at pret. So
we didnt get to go to the duomo that day like planned.

Bus ride

On the way to where we were meeting the
mission ap's told us what areas we could possibly be in. One of the places they
said was como.....As soon as they said that everyone yelled "como
carter" because they all knew I wanted to go where my dad had served. As
soon as he said that I felt that I could had a really high chance of
going there.

President Wolfgramm Speech

Right before we found out who our
trainers were Presdient Wolfgram gave a little speech where he told us that our
families had recieved a phonecall and they already knew who our companions were
and where we were assigned to serve. As soon as h said that ws sooo happy
and I felt the spirit sooo strongly that I began to cry. I knew that whrever I
was goingwas going to be the best place for me. Ihad a feeling that I was going
to Como but I didn't want to get my hopes to high.

New Collega and Area

My collega is Sorella McCann! She is
great! So I was one of the last 2 sorelle to find out where I would be sering
and who my collega would be. I had a feeling that I would be with her and
be going to como. When Sorella McCann said my name I was so relieved and
grateful to be with her.Seriously I can't find anything that I don't like about
her. She is amazing and such a good example to me. This is only her second
transfer in Italy so she is still pretty new as well. The good news is
that she can seak Italian well. We are pretty much the same person in
some ways.We both love fashion and we even have some of the same clothes and
boots. She is from Utah. Oh and no big deal but her grandpa is Elder Holland.
haha She casually told me one day and I started to freak out. Ah seriously she
is great.

Duomo

After I met Sorella McCann we went to
the duomo to talk to people in front of it which was scary. haha The duomo is
breathtaking especially as you first see it after walking out of the metro.

Italian Stereotypes

They always use their hands..always. It
is great I love it. Also when we are doing casa and we ring the bell they stick
their heads out the window to see who it is..hahah too much fun.

Como

It is beautiful. The lake is beautiful.
It is very humid here, but there is an occassional breeze. I love it here.

First Gelato

Too good.. I got Panne/nutella and
biscotti. I almost cried becaus it was so delicious. It is suppose to be a very
hot week so I think there will be lots of gelato this week.

Fredico

So one day last week we were casually
eat our lunch with the window open when all of the sudden a bird flew in the
apartment....it hit a flower that we had in a vase and was flying around
everywhere,. Luckily we were able to get him bak outside. He kept going by the
front door because he wanted to go out polietly. haha poor little bird. We
named him Fredico. I am glad he is out of our apartment.

Gero

So a gero is going around in a
circle. So we did a gero in a chinese store because they sell peanut butter!!
Real peanut butter! Bless the day! Peanut butter and nutella are the best
snacks after a long day.

Strata

So we were doing strata and we met an
elderly woman that was 82. She had a rolling basket with all of her groceries
so we decided to walk with her and help her with her groceries. So we thought w
were walking her to her home....nope to a store because she thought she was
helping us. She told us that this storee would be great for preaching the
gospel. We felt badso we walked in and walked back out the other way when she
was gone because I am pretty sure it is illegal to do that in a grocery store.

Chiesa

I didn't get to speak sunday because
someone just got home from their mision in Rome so next week! The como ward was
recently split into two ward a couple of months ago. The people are great I
can't wait to get to know them all. I am pretty sure there are a couple that
were their when dad was in their. Also I was wearing a green dress so everyone
said the greenie is wearing green so you can't miss her. I didn't even think of
it until we were their. haha

Gloria and Fabbricio

They are both recent converts and are
great. They know a few english word and try and help us with our Italian and we
try and help them with english. They were trying to teach us italian tongue
twisters and they wanted to learn some english tongue twisters. So we had them
do "How much wood would a woodchuck...." also "she sells
seashells.." and "peter piper.." It was great! They could do it
too but it was said withan italian accent.

First Italian Meal

On sunday we had pranzo with Gloria's
family. It was soo delcious. Classic Italian.

Festivo means that the bus schedual is
different and is on random days. haha so we have had to run to the bus a lot of
times. People are so nice to us. They will wait for us and people have even
waved for us so that we could make it on the bus.

Material Things

Okay lets be honest I love to shop. It
is pretty funny that I got called to the fashion capital of the world. But the
other day I had an "ah ha" moment. There are some fancy stores in
Comom and I was just watching people who were shopping one day and realized how
much shopping means to people. I could see it in their eyes. At that moment I
realized how material things are not important although I still do like them, I
am learning that there are more important things in life.

Fearless Drivers

The Italians are fearless drivers. NO
FEAR! haha It is crazy. enough said

Strata

Recently for strata we were walking by
lake como when I notice this woman on a bench and I thought we should talk to
her. So I start the converation....very simply..but I started it.. The woman
was very nice. Somehow I was able to recite the first vision in Italian.. That
was a miracle because always get nervous when I do it in front of other
people. I a grateful I had the courage to talk to that woman.

Benjamin and Francis

Benjamin is a less active and Francis
is a potential investigatior. They are both from Ghana and speak english. We
gave them a lesson about faith. We asked them to act on that faith and come to
church this sunday. They both love the book of mormo. But they told us he
couldn't because he has to teach at his church. He uses the book of
mormon there, ha hopefully we can get him to come with his church to our church
because the know it is true. we shall see.

Zone Conference

We had zone conference yesterday which
was my first and last with President and srella Wolfgramm. Seriously they are
both so kind and loving. They have stressed a principle called gems which means
grow every missionary. Which helps you to focus on others and what their need
are. At zone conference we talked about the importance of the book of mormon
and did lots of roll plays. All the new sorelle and anziani had to go up and do
a roll play together. The one line I knew how to say in Italian was Dio ci amo.
haha ohh gheeze..haha I also got to see some of my fellow MTC sorelle and
anziani

Pday

Today we went to Milano. We did some
shopping in Milano, which was so fun (after I gave the little talk about
material things) haha We also were able to see the painting the last supper,
which is very difficult to get tickets to. We had to go through two room before
the actual room to get the liquids off of us or something. It was beautiful and
huge. Sandi would have appreciated this. It was gorgeous. The light in the
painting focued on Christ's face. Also I never knew that their was a door under
the painting. Apparently there was a door that that need to make bigger so if
you look under the table in the middle you will see a door.

I love it here in Italy. The people
make me feel comfortable. Theare always willing to help us with our Italian and
I am grateful for that. I love you all. Thank you for all of you love and
support.

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

-Matthew 11:28-30

"Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."